One East Lancs constituency still considering morning after election count (From Lancashire Telegraph)

One East Lancs constituency still considering morning after election count

3:00pm Monday 15th February 2010 in News By Tom Moseley, Reporter

ONE of East Lancashire’s constituencies is still considering holding its general election count on the morning after polling day.

Burnley officials have not yet reached a decision on when to begin the count, and a meeting is set to be held in the next few weeks to finalise the plans.

Council leader Gordon Birtwistle, who is standing at the general election for the Liberal Democrats, said he would prefer a night-time count, with the votes for council seats, which take place on the same day, counted the following morning.

The other East Lancashire districts told the Lancashire Telegraph they were planning for an overnight count following polling day, which is expected to be on Thursday, May 6.

Town hall officials are bracing themselves for a mammoth general election count that is expected to take until 4am, with new tighter rules on checking postal votes in place for the first time.

Returning officers across the country have been debating postponing the count until the Friday, sparking a 'save general election night' campaign.

Blackburn MP and Justice Secretary Jack Straw has backed a cross-party campaign to force councils to begin counts within four hours of polls closing.

The move was criticised by Tory councillor and former Blackburn Conservatives Chairman Joe Smith, who said it would not allow enough time for postal votes to be checked.

But his fellow Conservative Michael Law-Riding, who is standing against Mr Straw, said: “That’s Joe’s opinion.

"I can see where he’s coming from, because there are major issues with postal votes.

“But I am in favour of an evening count. We need to get it out the way.”

Mr Straw’s amendment to the Constitutional Reform Bill may not become law in time for the election day, but he said he wanted to 'send a message' to returning officers.

The Society of Local Authority Chief Executives has criticised the move, saying it was too short notice.